David Parham of the Vance County Alcoholic Beverage Control Board broached a plan to the Vance County Board of Commissioners during their regular meeting yesterday evening to consolidate Vance’s two stores into one larger, more profitable enterprise.
Parham told commissioners that the ABC Board takes its responsibility seriously, and that it has been in the upper 10% in profit for many years. However, he warned, that profit is starting to decrease.
Parham argued that revenues can only increase by having sustained population growth or attracting new customers.
The presenter from the ABC Board told members that he had examined three similar systems that consolidated and moved into high traffic areas: Halifax, Reidsville, and Pasquotank. Parham said that these areas had an increase in sales without a corresponding increase in population.
Parham further informed board members that while a new store would cost money initially, it would save money over the next ten years in utility, rent, and employee reductions.
Apparently, some examination of potential sites has already occurred. Parham stated that sites must be approved by the ABC Commission in Raleigh, but “they support us”.
Parham noted that the Vance ABC Board has not yet spend money on the project.
Both Commissioner Danny Wright and Chair of the Board of Commissions Deborah Brown made statements to the effect that they were not interested in the ABC Board acquiring new customers, but that they were interested in the ABC Board operating more efficiently.
Danny Wright moved that the Board of Commissioners support the move by the ABC Board and that the matter be referred to the General Government Committee. The resolution passed unanimously.